One of my New Year’s resolutions should be a piece of cake. Not literally, unfortunately, since I’ve resolved to cut back on the sugar — I know, I know, tough to get less original than that. Anyway, what I’m determined to do is read more, especially outside of my genre. So I binged in December within my genre (because there’s no such thing as too much romance), and below are the books that brought me bliss. Happy Friday, all!

A Cold Dark Promise by Toni Anderson

What it’s about:

A Cold Dark Promise takes place during the week leading up to the wedding of former assassin Alex Parker to FBI Agent Mallory Rooney, who meet and fall in love in the novel A Cold Dark Place.

In the midst of wedding preparations, a shadowy figure from Alex Parker’s past reappears and threatens the joy he’s found with Mallory Rooney.

Four years ago, Jane Sanders’s rich and powerful ex-husband kidnapped their young daughter and Jane hasn’t seen her since. Now she finally has a lead on her location and she knows just the man to help her get her daughter back. Trouble is, he’s an assassin. And he terrifies her.

Despite his upcoming nuptials, Alex agrees to help, but it doesn’t take long for the routine operation to turn complicated—and deadly. Can the former CIA operative make it home in time to marry the woman he loves, or will his dark past destroy all hope for their future?

Why you should read it:A Cold Dark Promise is a seriously bliss-inducing novella from romantic suspense favorite Toni Anderson. OK, so the creepy title doesn’t exactly suggest hearts and flowers, but trust me, they’re in there — Anderson never fails to effortlessly balance the thrill-y parts with the swoon-y parts.

“I’m not sure this reproduction business is divided equally between the sexes,” she said dryly.

“Hey, I did my part.”

“Your part involved a few minutes of vigorous exercise.” She sounded particularly unimpressed.

He’d have to fix that later.

Plus, the book features two couples — Alex and Mal, from book one in the series, and Jack and the mysterious Jane, who’ve never before met — which means twice the romance! This latest installment in the Cold Justice series offers hardcore suspense that builds complication upon complication, quickly elevating the stakes from personal to international, life-or-death all the way. The guy-speak is a spot-on riot, the heroes’ relentless battle to balance respect for their love interests with the need to keep them safe both funny and touching. So many heart-in-your-throat moments. The wedding scene is one of the most moving reunions I’ve ever read. Current fans of the series will adore the cameos by characters from previous stories, and new-to-Anderson book lovers will find her flawed, irreverent, highly skilled crew of justice seekers irresistible. Another truly riveting read from the bestselling Toni Anderson.

Forgetting Jack Cooper: The Outlaw Edition by Jennifer Chance

What it’s about:

Always hanging out on the edge of trouble, Chantal Green didn’t so much mind taking the fall for Jack back in high school—it was worth it to get under the hood of old man Hassel’s prized Ferrari. Fast forward ten years, and Chantal’s racked up a string of misdemeanors and a whole lot of miles under her chromed-out wheels. She’s now the successful owner of Sex Machina, a high-end custom motorcycle and gear shop that has her on the road constantly, where she most wants to be. Sure, she wonders what it’d be like to have a real home and sense of community, but that’s not on the horizon for her.

When Chantal gets Jack Cooper’s redemption-tour invite, her first thought is to ignore it. But the publicity would be sweet, so…

For military vet Luc Martin, home has special meaning. He never expected to be caring for his great aunt and uncle—or taking over their French bakery in Panama City Beach—after his second tour of duty, but he can’t deny he loves it. He’s traveled the world over and he’s ready to stop and watch the sunset more, even if it’s a little lonely watching it all by himself. Then a vision in spiked motorcycle boots roars into his shop, and Luc suddenly finds himself wondering if maybe his definition of home is all wrong…and if maybe a tough-talking biker with a heart of gold is worth chasing, even if she’s mostly running from herself.

Why you should read it: What a fun and ingenious premise for a series! Hollywood heartthrob Jack Cooper is about to shoot a film about redemption, only he doesn’t have a clue what the word means. So he takes off on a national tour to apologize to the women he’s wronged and winds up steering each toward true love. Fabulous concept, right? The other authors writing for the series include Elizabeth Bemis, Jennifer Bernard, Erin McCarthy, and Lizzie Shane.

Jennifer Chance’s Jack Cooper story features a heavenly hash of characters — a soft-centered biker chick heroine; an ex-military pastry chef hero who woos his customers with a convenient French accent; a devoted, daredevil aunt and uncle settled on finding Luc his happy ever after; and the unconventional crew that can’t resist mothering Chantal as they help her build her custom motorcycles. I adore how the author puts her own refreshing twist on tropes, and balances the prickly with the poignant. And ooh la la, that scene with the chocolate mousse … Chance’s sexy-time scenes are delectable. Too bad Chantal doesn’t plan on hanging around for seconds.

“You damaged public property?” Luc pressed.

He expected her to deny it, but Chantal merely gave him a weary smile. The kind of smile that put a thousand miles of distance between them in an instant.

“We all do stupid things,” he said staunchly, but Chantal shook her head, her glance going to the door. She couldn’t be telegraphing more obviously that she was ready to bolt…but how far would she be going?

Forgetting Jack Cooper: The Outlaw Edition is a colorful, energetic, full-of-surprises novella — an entrancing, solid stand-alone despite being part of a series. 115 pages doesn’t allow a lot of room for a couple to fall in love, but Chance makes it happen, and she makes it look effortless. Her hero and heroine complement each other in a bone-deep way guaranteed to make you wistful, and how they overcome their differences is as inspired as it is gratifying.

Catalyst by Rachel Grant

What it’s about:

When a food storage depot in famine-struck South Sudan is torched, American aid worker Brie Stewart flees, only to land in a market where she’s the next item up for auction. Is the attack on the aid facility another assault upon the war-torn fledgling democracy, or has her family set her up as a pawn in their quest for oil rights?

Chief Warrant Officer Sebastian Ford crossed paths with Brie years ago when she was a shill for her family’s company, pushing a pipeline that threatened his tribe’s land. Determined to lead the rescue operation to save her, he won’t let her abduction—or the attraction that flares between them—get in the way of settling their unfinished business.

The Green Beret’s skills are put to the test in the flooded grasslands of South Sudan, where they must battle nature and dangerous factions who are after more than oil. Bastian and Brie put their hearts on the line as they find themselves embroiled in a conflict that extends beyond country and continent. Together they must douse the spark before it reaches the flashpoint and engulfs everything they hold dear.

Why you should read it: This latest from Rachel Grant is one powerhouse of a book. Against a battle-savaged South Sudan backdrop, in the midst of fighting soldiers, slavers and the unforgiving elements, Grant’s hero and heroine set aside their seemingly insurmountable differences to make a difference, risking their own lives, falling for each other despite their mutual animosity and the hostiles hunting them. And, oh, it works. It works extremely well.

A second later, he fired his rifle, then dropped down beside her.

“Got one,” he whispered. At least she thought it was a whisper. Her ears rang from the report of the bullet.

She nodded, even though she hated the plan. She wanted to stay with Bastian and his big gun, and that wasn’t a euphemism.

Grant does not shy away from the disturbing. Catalyst deals with terrorism, famine, sexual trafficking, rape, corporate corruption and bigotry, all relevant issues that add a challenging dynamic to a book that’s already fiercely unpredictable and exceptionally gripping. The author imbues the issues with personal as well as political slants and the result is an intelligent, illuminating blend of reality and romance. Grant’s characters are far from perfect, but redemption for these two player types starts from the get-go. I appreciated their honesty and marveled at the lengths they’re willing to go to, for the exploited and for each other. A well-crafted, diabolical plot; compelling contrasts of setting, personal worth, emotional history, and family dynamics; an irresistibly saucy humor; and a couple whose passion rivals the heat of an African summer all make this second book in the Flashpoint series a reading essential. (See Kathy’s rec for Flashpoint book one, Tinderbox.)

Deception by Kris Kennedy

What it’s about:

Irishman Kier once served as the ‘Piper,’ enticing wealthy, unscrupulous men into dealings with other wealthy, unscrupulous men. It was a lucrative way of life for a man without a conscience, and he was very, very good. But now he’s on a mission of revenge, and the men who once betrayed him are about to pay. He’s planned for everything, from how he’ll lure them in, to how he’ll hammer the last nail into their coffins. He’s planned for everything. Except the one woman who can bring the whole thing crashing down around him.

Sophia Darnly is stunned by the reappearance of the outlaw lover who abandoned her years ago. And furious. And desperate. Fleeing with a document that contains the most damning details about the wealthiest men in England, she’s being hunted by dangerous men, and has no choice but to do the most dangerous thing of all: turn to Kier to save her.

Time has not erased Sophia from Kier’s heart, nor tamed her fiery spirit. But Kier is on a mission of revenge, and can’t allow even the woman he once loved to stop him.

When Sophia forces herself into Kier’s schemes, he has no choice but to join forces. Posing as a wealthy shipping widow and her agent, the duo set a trap for their targets, but the coals of their rekindled passion burn hotter than either of them could have imagined. And when they discover they, too, are the targets of a deadly deception, the fate of their love, and of England itself, lies in the balance.

Why you should read it: Kris Kennedy’s stories are always breathtaking. Intelligent. Humorous. And hot. Extremely hot. Kennedy writes historical romance featuring dark, dangerous situations with damaged, desperate characters guaranteed to hold your heart hostage. Characters who do everything within their power to fight the sexual attraction that builds as sharply as the suspense. Of course they inevitably lose the fight, and in such tantalizing ways. I adored this pair of reunited lovers, out for revenge in a world of high treason and even higher stakes. Each has suffered a great deal, but neither considers playing the woe is me card — no doubt because they’re too busy dealing with bandits, smugglers, pirates and all kinds of medieval treachery — not to mention a hefty mutual distrust. In the beginning, anyway.

Kier closed his eyes before looking back to the water. “How did Maynard come to be climbing up the side of the ship?”

“He came with me,” Sophia said. “He would not leave my side.”

“I owe him my life.”

“You owe him mine.”

He gave a little shrug. “They are the same thing.”

That snippet alone makes me want to read the book all over again!

The detail is rich, the plot unexpected, the pace pell-mell. Deception is a droll, scorching, mesmerizing tale that will render you most reluctant to depart the 13th century.

Most Eligible Bastard by Annika Martin

What it’s about:

I’m Vicky, the dog whisperer. (Not really, but that’s what my elderly neighbor always says.) When she dies, she surprises everybody by leaving a corporation worth billions to her dog, Smuckers. With me as his spokesperson.

Suddenly I go from running my Etsy store to sitting in an elegant Wall Street boardroom with Smuckers in my lap. And my neighbor’s son, Henry Locke, aka New York’s most eligible bachelor, glaring across the table at me.

Rumor has it Henry’s a business genius who’s as talented in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom. Sure, he’s gorgeous. Sex-in-a-seven-thousand dollar suit. But I’m so over entitled rich guys who think they own the world. No way will his wicked smile be charming ME out of my panties. His wicked…devastating…impossible-to-resist smile.

Oh well, who needs panties anyway?

Why you should read it: With a vivacious, tongue-in-cheek humor and a wicked way with words, Annika Martin offers a charming, offbeat read that quickly becomes equal parts poignant and steamy. Poor Henry has shut himself off from any potential for happiness, while Vicky has shut herself off from who she really is. Since all reasons are heartrending, you’ll find yourself rooting hard for both characters. On the amusing side of things, Henry’s sense of entitlement infuriates Vicky, and Vicky’s ’down-to-earth-ness’ confuses Henry. They challenge each other relentlessly, yet come to respect the sense of loyalty they have in common. They come to respect how much they want each other, too. The slow burn of their relationship will absolutely keep you hooked.

Around the twenty-fifth floor I’m wondering if it’s a small thing—he has this vague masculine scent with manly notes of cinnamon and something musky. I breathe it in, letting it fill my nooks and crannies.

Maybe that’s what’s affecting me. Maybe he’s wearing some pheromone concoction. A zillion dollars an ounce, made from the tears of mighty lions.

There’s no quick resolution, to their troubles or their mutual lust, which I found realistic and comforting. And deliciously suspenseful.

She gasps as I kiss her again. My IQ has taken a high-speed elevator to the lower level parking garage where cavemen chisel away at their square wheels.

Just as the title promises, Martin’s Most Eligible Bastard is cheeky and unexpected. It’s also moving, dorky, profound, funny and super sexy. Just as Henry and Vicky discover all kinds of surprising layers, within themselves and each other, you’ll find an intriguing and irresistible complexity within this captivating enemies-to-lovers tale. (See Annika’s interview with HEA about Most Eligible Bastard.)

Kathy Altman’s latest contemporary romance is Making It Right. Kathy prefers her chocolate with nuts, her Friday afternoons with wine and her love stories with happy ever afters. Her website is kathyaltman.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.